On Stage 2 of the 2013 Tour de France, RadioShack rider Jan Bakelants earned his first stage win, and the first for Trek’s newest race bike, the Madone 7. Trek, which is taking over sole sponsorship for the powerhouse pro team in 2014, gave us an early look at the revised—and noticeably improved—aero-road machine.

This is not a brand-new bike, but an update to the current iteration, a fine bike that was an Editors’ Choice finalist this year. The most significant change is to the chainstays, which now feature a revised carbon layup and a tweaked shape. In addition, the company’s designers changed the lug that joins the bottom bracket and chainstay. Both modifications, Trek says, aim to improve ride feel and increase braking performance.

Road Brand Manager Michael Mayer explained further that the new shapes better work better work with direct-mount style brakes, which increases power, helps the rear wheel track straight, and minimizes brake rub. He added that the bike’s new carbon layup, designed to improve the bike’s ride feel, is the final variant of a process that saw Trek employees evaluate 300 different combinations during combined lab-, and road testing. The new frame is also about 25 grams lighter—Trek says the bike now weighs 725 grams, once coated with the company’s lightweight U5 paint.

The rear brake is located behind the bottom bracket, which slightly improves aerodynamics, and also gives the bike's seatstays a clean look—and lets Trek engineers remove some material from them to lighten the frame. (Matt Phillips)

Many of the bike’s features remain unchanged from 2012’s version: The main frame tubes use a Kamm Tail Virtual Foil shape that is designed to take advantage of a principle discovered by Wunibald Kamm in the 1930s—an intact airfoil will perform the same with its tail removed. By using tubes with this truncated shape, Trek is able to deliver a bike with some aero benefits, and one that’s more efficient and more comfortable than a bike with true airfoil shapes—just the thing for everyday riding or racing.

This version of the Madone uses direct-mount brakes from Bontrager—the front caliper is recessed into and shaped to match the contours of the fork, and the rear brake is tucked under the chainstays. Trek says the front brake provides a minimal aero advantage, while the rear brake’s location helps to save weight by letting the company eliminate some material from the seat stays. Although brakes mounted in aero positions are difficult to work with, and often lack stopping power, these calipers worked well in my test. If you don’t like the Bontrager brakes, you can install Shimano’s Dura-Ace 9010 direct-mount calipers, but you will incur a slight aerodynamic penalty, says Trek.

Updates to the Madone 7 included a change in the carbon layup on the chainstays. The new stays feel stiff and help the bike ride with greater fluidity. (Matt Phillips)